Torenia plant named &#39;danmoon14&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘DANMOON14’ characterized by having shiny green foliage, doted with plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with petals in shades of violet, purple and light purple with a yellow blotch on lower petal; vigorous growth habit; densely, compact branching habit which gracefully semi-cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Torenia sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANMOON14’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANMOON14’.

The new Torenia cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor Gabriel Danziger, in (2002) in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-2-1001’ (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1’ (unpatented). DANMOON14 The new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON14’ was discovered and selected by the inventor Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in (2002) in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft tip cuttings was first performed in July of 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DANMOON14’ which in combination distinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Plants produce shiny green foliage, doted with plenty of         delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with petals in shades         of violet, purple and light purple with a yellow blotch on lower         petal;     -   2. Vigorous growth habit;     -   3. Densely, compact branching habit which gracefully cascades         from hanging baskets;     -   4. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate         climate;     -   5. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial         shade; and     -   6. Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of         15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON14’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘TR-2-1001’ (unpatented) and ‘TR-1’ (unpatented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1. TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Cultivar ‘TR-2-1001’ ‘TR-1’ Character ‘DANMOON14’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of violet, Petal shades of (pink), Petal shades of (pink), Color purple, and light purple, with a (yellow) blotch on with a (yellow) blotch with a yellow blotch on lower petal on lower petal lower petal Flower size Depth: About 3.2 cm Depth: About 3.5 cm Depth: About 2.8 cm Width: About 2.8 cm Width: About 3.2 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Growth habit Bush, semi-cascading Bush, trailing Bush Flowering 3 weeks from planting 6 weeks from planting 2 weeks from planting time

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON14’ is the Torenia cultivar ‘DANTOHONEYMON’ (unpatented, and disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/144,631), in the following characteristics described in Table 2: TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANTOHONEYMON’ Characteristic ‘DANMOON14’ (unpatented) Mature Flower Petal shades of violet, Petal shades of red-purple, Color purple, and light purple, and purple, with a yellow with a yellow blotch blotch on lower petal on lower petal Flower size Depth: About 3.2 cm Depth: About 3.0 cm Width: About 2.8 cm Width: About 3.0 cm Growth habit Bush, semi-cascading Bush, cascading Flowering time 8 weeks from planting 9 weeks from planting

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON14’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘DANMOON14’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANMOON14’ in a hanging planter at 3 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘DANMOON14’ at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia cultivar ‘DANMOON14’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANMOON14’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANMOON14’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winter season. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis. Plants of ‘DANMOON14’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partial shade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANMOON14’ are fully grown in 3 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANMOON14’ plants described herein were grown indoors in 16 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘DANMOON14’ were fertilized up to a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and 94.4 ppm K.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 noon in June of 2004 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant describe is 3 months.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Torenia sp.         -   Commercial.—Torenia cultivar Roslyn Moon. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Torenia cultivar designated             ‘TR-2-1001’ (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1’             (unpatented). -   Propagation: Tissue culture (micropropagation of young in vitro     plantlet) and soft tip cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bush, semi-cascading.         -   Growth habit.—Rounded and compact.         -   Height.—About 15 to 25 cm.         -   Spread.—About 40 cm.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperature below 5° C. may             damage plants.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully grown in 3 months             from planting a cutting in summer. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144A.         -   Length.—15 to 20 cm maximum length.         -   Diameter.—About 0.3 cm.         -   Pubescence.—Minimal and sporadic; stem is quadrangular, few             hairs on the edges.         -   Branching.—About 5 to 9 main branches grow from the base and             split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.         -   Length of internodes.—1.5 to 3.0 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape.—Convex, deltoid.         -   Apex.—Reniform.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: About 3.8 cm Width: About 3.0 cm.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Color.—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137A Upper side:             Green, RHS 137A Under side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146B.         -   Leaf texture.—Minimal pubescence present.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnate, mid-rib splits to 4 to 6 veins             Color: Yellow-green, RHS 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 to 1.3 cm Diameter: About 0.25 cm             Color: Yellow-Green, RHS 146B. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in             a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs             between February and November outdoors.         -   Flowering response time.—8 weeks from planting in summer             season.         -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 3 to 5; Per plant:             About 150 to 500.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 7 days,             depending on temperature;

Vase life: about 2 to 4 days.

-   -   -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged; Corolla tube:             cylindrical or often broadened above; Corolla: 2-lipped, the             upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower size.—Depth: About 3.2 cm Width: About 2.8 cm.         -   Bud.—Shape: Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoidal, 5-winged Size:             Length: About 1.6 cm Diameter: About 0.9 cm Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 144A Texture: Pubescence on winged edges.         -   Floral tube.—Length: About 2.5 cm Color: The colors change             going through the flower tube down. Outside: Violet, RHS 84A             (apex), light purple, RHS 76A (middle) and purple, RHS N78A             middle and RHS 12A (base) Inside: Light purple, RHS 76B             (apex) and yellow-orange, RHS 14A (base).         -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused Length: Upper Petal: About 2.5             cm; Side Petals: About 2.0 cm; Lower Petal: About 2.0 cm.             Width: Upper Petal: About 1.5 cm; Side Petals: About 1.1 cm;             Lower Petal: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Upper Petal: Overall:             orbicular, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Side Petals: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Lower: Overall:             spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused. Margin: Entire and             undulated Color: Violet petals with purple blotches on side             petals surrounding the corolla, and a yellow blotch in the             middle of the lower petal near base, and light purple color             at base of all petals. Mature Petals: Please review             carefully, insert missing any RHS designation and confirm             accuracy of listed colors and their specified location.             Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, violet, RHS 84A, and             near base, light purple, RHS 76A; and margin, RHS 84A; Side             Petals: Near apex, violet, RHS 84A, with centralized purple             blotch, RHS N78A, and near base, light purple, RHS 76A, and             margin RHS 84A; Lower Petal: Primarily violet, RHS 84A, with             yellow blotch, RHS 7A, in the middle near base, and light             purple color surrounding yellow blotch and near base, RHS             76A, and margin RHS 84A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Near             apex, RHS 84A, and near base, RHS 76A and margin, RHS 84A;             Side Petals: Near apex, RHS 85A, and near base, RHS 85B and             margin, RHS 84A; Lower Petal: Near apex, RHS 85B, and near             base, RHS 158A and margin, RHS 85C. Throat: Upper throat:             Light purple, RHS 76B; Lower throat: Yellow-orange, RHS 14A.             Immature Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, RHS             76A, and near base, RHS 76A; and margin, RHS N80B; Side             Petals: Near apex, RHS N80A, near base, RHS N80A, and margin             RHS N80C; Lower Petal: Primarily RHS N80A, with yellow             blotch, RHS 7A, in the middle near base, and margin RHS             N80A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Near apex, RHS N80C, and             near base, RHS N80C N80B and margin, RHS N80C; Side Petals:             Near apex, RHS N80A, and near base, RHS N80B and margin, RHS             N80A; Lower Petal: Near apex, RHS N80B, and near base, RHS             158A and margin, RHS N80B; Throat: Upper throat: Light             purple, RHS 76A; Lower throat: Yellow, RHS 13A.         -   Sepals.—Number: 5 Length: About 1.7 cm Width: About 1 cm             Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged Apex: Acute Base: Wedge shaped             Margin: Entire Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144A.         -   Peduncle.—Length: About 1.4 to 2 cm Diameter: About 0.2 mm             Texture: Smooth Color: Yellow-Green, RHS 144A.

-   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower; fused Color:             Purple, RHS 76 D Anther: Length: About 0.4 cm; upper anther             0.4 cm Width: About 0.05 cm Color: Purple, RHS 76 D Spur:             Present Filament: Length: About 1.4 cm; lower filaments are             shorter 0.3 cm Width: About 0.05 cm Color: Purple, RHS 76D             Pollen: Amount: Sparse Color: White, RHS N155C Requirements             for pollination: Young flowers, vital pollen, and receptive,             open stigma.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower Length: About 2.1             cm Stigma: Shape: Two lobes, open to opposite sides, deltoid             shape. Length: About 0.2 cm Width: About 0.2 cm Color:             Purple, RHS 76B Style: Length: About 1.7 cm. Color: Purple,             RHS 76C Ovary: Number: 1 Length: About 0.5 cm Width: About             0.2 cm Color: Green, RHS 143A

-   Seed/fruit: None

-   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard     preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was     observed.

-   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANMOON14’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 